Combined detachable lable and pouring spout



Nov. 14, 1939.; -P. N. GAIYQDNER 2180,045

cousmm DETACHABLE' LABEL Ann PouRIn -sP0fif' Filed Nov. 5, 1938 I;Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ||||m I IIIIIIIIIIHII i ml I.

law! I llill Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED. STATES 2,180,045 COMBINED DETACHABLE LABEL AND POUR- ING SPOUT Paul N. Gardner, Bethesda, Md. 2

Application November 5, 1938, Serial No. 239,142

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to detachable pouring spouts for friction top cans and particularly to a combined label and pouring spout therefor.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a detachable pouring spout for friction top cans which will frictionally engage in the usual channel provided in the upper end of the can and will prevent fluid material being poured from the can from' entering the channel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable pouring spout for friction top cans comprising a semi-cylindrical body member adapted to resiliently engage thebody of the can when not in use as a spout and which will act as a label or carrier of advertising matter for the material in the can or otherwise.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a detachable pouring spout made of relatively cheap material so that the spout may economically be discarded after the contents of the can are used up and which is made of material which will frictionally engage the walls of the annular channel common to friction top cans to mount the spout firmly in operative position without the necessity of any special formation of the spout or the use of extraneous securing means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a friction top can with a detachable spout embodying the invention applied to the body of the can as a label or the like,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the spout in position in the annular channel of the can, ready for pouring the contents,

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the assembly of Figure 1, and 1 Figure 6 is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, the can 10 is of the well known friction top type formed at its upper end with an annular channel II .which normally receives an annular bead l2 of the friction top I3. The can is sealed by the tight engagement of the bead l2 in the channel ll. Since this type of can is commonly used in the merchandising of paints, the present invention will be described in connection with paint cans although it obviously is not limited to any particular commodity. After paint cans are opened and part of the contents poured out, it has been found that the channel I l becomes partially filled with paint and when this dries in the channel, a tight fit of the bead ii in the channel H is impossible and the contents of the can left after the first or second opening of the can are quickly spoiled due to the access of air thereto.

The detachable pouring spout ll of the present invention comprises a semi-cylindrical body formed of resilient fibrous material such as corrugated paper board, papier-mach, or the like. Corrugated paper board has been found particularly adapted for the purpose. The corrugated board of the body of the spout l4 comprises a corrugated center or core l5, arranged with the corrugations extending vertically, and plain facing layers l6 and ll of paper, cemented to opposite faces thereof. The outer facing layer I 6 carries indicia l8 which may be in the form of a label identifying the contents of the can or advertising matter of any suitable nature, as desired. In order to give a finished appearance, the outer facing layer "5 is preferably turned in over the top edge of the spout as indicated at i9.

A collar 20 is provided on the spout, spaced from the lower edge thereof about a distance equal to or a little greater than the depth of the channel II. This collar 20 overlies the rim of the can when the spout is in pouring position, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, to prevent any paint which may run down the outside of the spout from collecting on the rim of the can and runninginto the channel when the spout is removed after pouring. The collar 20 may be formed of an arcuate fiat piece of cardboard and is adhesively held in place by a turned back portion of the outer facing sheet l6. This leaves the outer side of the coarse corrugated stock of the core l5 exposed below the collar 20 as at 2i and it has been found that a better frictional engagement of the spout in the channel It is thus obtained. It will be noted that the spout 1 body at its lower edge is thicker than the width .of the channel I I so that the body material is compressed when inserted in the channel.

In order to insure that the spout will firmly grip the can when appliedthereto as a label, a resilient metal band or spring 22 is embedded in the body-of the spout. This band extends horizontally and is preferably threaded through the ribs of the corrugated core l5 as seen in Figures 3 and 5. This spring or resilient band tends to collapse the spout to a smaller diameter than the body of the can so as to cause the spout to tightly engage the can and retain its position thereon. This contracting force also insures a tight fit between the inner face of the spout and adjacent wall of the channel Ii when the spout is inserted in the channel for pouring.

In the use of the spout, the same may be applied to the cans to serve as a label or advertising medium as previously described, and in any event while not in use as a spout proper. After the top i3 is removed and it is desired to pour some of the contents from the can, the lower edge of the spout is inserted into the channel ll Due to the resiliency of the corrugated board a tight frictional engagement is had between the spout and walls of the channel so that the spout is firmly held in position while pouring the contents, Also, the plain inner face of the spout, .in engagement with the inner wall of the channel prevents leak-. age of paint into the channel at this point. As previously described, the collar 20 prevents any drippings from leaking into the channel from the outside.

In the form of the invention shown in F18- ure 6, a ring or band 25 of corrugated board is provided at the lower portion only of the spout body 26. The main spout portion is formed of two paper layers 21 and 23 adhesively secured together and enclosing a resilient band 28 between them. The band 28 may be of spring metal and performs the same function as the band 22 in the other form of the invention. The laminated spout portion is adhesively united to the inner face of the corrugated band 25, forming an inner facing therefor.

The layer ZImay be in the form of a label or may carry any suitable indicia or advertising matter.

It will be seen that the invention provides a very eflicient and satisfactory combination label and detachable pouring spout which may be manufactured at such a low cost that one could be supplied with each can of paint sold, to be discarded with the empty can after the contents are used up.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent that other modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a semi-cylindrical spout body having at least the lower portion thereof formed of corrugated paper board adapted frictionally to engage in said annular channel to retain the spout in position on said can.

2. A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical body adapted resiliently to engage the body of the can to act as a label therefor, said body having at least a lower edge portion formed of compressible resilient fibrous material adapted frictionally to engage in said annular channel to mount said body on said can as a pouring spout for the contents thereof when the top is removed.

3. A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end, thereof,

comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical spout body adapted resiliently to engage the body of the can to act as a label therefor, said body having at least the lower edge portion thereof formed of compressible resilient fibrous material adapted frictionally to engage in said annular channel to mount said spout body on said can as a pouring spout, said spout body having a collar member outstanding from the outer surface thereof adjacent the lower edge portion adapted to overlie the rim of said can when the lower edge portion of the spout is engaged in said channel.

4. A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical body adapted toengage the body of a can to act as a label therefor, a resilient spring member incorporated in the spout body disposed to encircle the can to cause the body to grip the can and retain its position thereon, said body having at least a lower edge portion formed of compressible resilient fibrous material adapted frictionally to engage in said annular channel of said can to mount said spout body on said can as a pouring spout for the contents thereof when the top is removed.

5. Av detachable pouring spout comprising a spout body formed of corrugated paper board having an outer facing layer adapted to receive indicia and an inner facing layer to provide a pouring surface, and a resilient spring member mounted between said layers adapted to cause said spout body to grip the surface of the body portion of the can to retain itself in position thereon.

6. A detachable pouring spout for paint cans and the like comprising a substantially semicylindrical laminated paper body adapted to encircle the body of the can for which it is to form a detachable spout, a resilient spring member disposed between the layers of said spout body to cause the latter to engage the can body with sufficient force to retain itself in position thereon, said spout body having a lower edge portion adapted frictionally to engage the cover-receiving portion of said can to mount said spout in position for pouring the contents of the can.

7. A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical spout body formed of corrugated paper board having an outer facing layer adapted for the reception of indicia and an inner facing layer adapted to provide a pouring surface, said inner facing layer extending to the lower edge of the spout body whereby to contact the adjacent channel wall when said spout is inserted endwise into said channel to act as a pouring spout for said can.

it A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical spout body formed of corrugated paper board having an outer facing adapted for the reception of indicia and an inner facing layer adapted to provide a pouring surface, said inner facing layer extending to the lower edge of the spout body whereby to contact the adjacent channel wall when said spout is inserted endwise into said channel to act as a pouring spout for said can, and an outstanding collar projecting from the outer surface of said spout spaced from the lower edge thereof whereby to overlie the rim of the can when said spout is inserted in said channel.

9. A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical spout body formed of corrugated paper board having an outer facing layer adapted for the reception of indicia and an inner facing layer adapted to provide a pouring surface, said inner facing layer extending to the lower edge of the spout body whereby to contact the adjacent channel wall when said spout is inserted endwise into said channel to act as a pouring spout for said can, said corrugated paper board being disposed with the corrugations extending vertically of the spout body and a horizontally extending resilient spring member disposed between said facing layers and intersecting said corrugations.

10. A combined detachable label and pouring spout for friction top cans of the type having an annular channel at the upper end thereof, comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical spout body formed of corrugated paper board having an outer facing layer adapted for the reception of indicia and an inner facing layer adapted to provide a pouring surface, said inner facing layer extending to the lower edge of the spout body whereby to contact the adjacent channel wall when said spout is inserted endwise into said channel to act as a pouring spout for said can, an outstanding collar projecting from the outer surface of said spout spaced from the lower edge thereof whereby to overlie the rim of the can when said spout is inserted in said channel, said corrugated paper board being disposed with the corrugations extending vertically of the spout body and a horizontally extending resilient spring member disposed between said facing layers and intersecting said corrugations.

11. A detachable pouring spout of the character described, comprising a laminated body portion having a resilient spring member disposed between the layers thereof, and a band of corrugated paper coextensive with the lower portion of said body.

PAUL N. GARDNER. 

